Upgrading to an automatic press is no doubt a significant step in your business growth. Now that you’ve made that decision, it’s time to consider the ancillary items that go hand in hand with this upgrade. If you haven’t made the decision to purchase an automatic press, be sure to read the article in our March 2023 newsletter, 6 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to and Automatic Press. These ancillary items may seem less significant, but they play a crucial role in ensuring the efficient operation of your printing business. In this article, we’ll look into these products and explain their importance. Compressor / Chiller At a minimum, you will need a compressor that produces enough PSIs (pounds per square inch) and CFMs (cubic feet per minute) to properly handle the requirements of your auto press. At this time, you may even want to consider future purchases that require air. PSI is the amount of pressure that the air compressor can generate and is typically measured at the outlet of the compressor. CFM refers to the amount of air that is delivered at a given pressure and is typically used to evaluate airflow capacity. The higher the CFM, the longer it can power or operate without needing to recharge. The chiller is a needed device for your compressor and offers several benefits. Essentially, it cools down the compressed air in your compressor, which reduces the operating temperature and improves the quality of the compressed air by eliminating moisture and contaminants that can cause damage to downstream equipment (specifically, your automatic press). There are two common options when you purchase: piston-driven and screw-driven compressors. Piston-driven uses pistons and cylinders to compress air, while screw-driven uses rotating screws to compress air. The advantage of piston-driven is that they are less expensive with fewer moving parts; the disadvantage is that they are generally less efficient and produce more noise and heat, as well as consume more energy. Screw-driven are more expensive but offer the advantage of efficiency and performance – they can operate at a constant speed without overheating. The choice between piston and screw compressors depends on the specific needs of your business. Dryers / Flashes / Attachments A crucial consideration is the need for a larger dryer. Automated printing significantly improves your output and you will need a dryer to handle the workload of these larger runs. A larger dryer will prevent bottlenecks in your production and increase the output capacity of your entire shop. Larger dryers can be powered by electricity or gas, and each offers a specific set of advantages. The topic of dryers is easily a stand-alone segment, so for this article, when considering a larger dryer, keep in mind the following: belt width, oven chamber, rate of production, and power source. When deciding on a flash, a key component is the balance between function and speed. Some flashes allow you preserve a printhead (color) by [...]